The scene was really quite typical.

A 20-something young woman, feeling just a little self-conscious because of her slightly rotund condition, browsing in a children's clothing store.

Her frustration, however, was atypical.

Her browsing — rather than producing the oohs and aahs or the "that's cute" and "isn't that darling?" that one might expect, led her instead to wonder just what the children clothing designers were thinking.

Because to her, one thing was abundantly true: whoever designed the bulk of these little girls' clothes was clearly not thinking — at all!

This was pregnancy No. 2 for the young woman. From the first pregnancy, she and her husband were blessed with a wonderful baby boy. Prenatal tests suggested that this one is a girl — and the mother-to-be-again couldn't be happier.

Knowing that the hand-me-down boy clothes at home wouldn't go too far in the infant girl's wardrobe — and remembering the "cute" outfits she'd seen years before — she decided to see what was available.

That's what prompted the "what are they thinking?" outburst.

Let's see, her infant girl can begin life in low-riding tight-fitting hip huggers. By the time she's toddling, the little girl can be labeled "spoiled and knows it." Before beginning school, she can have her ears pierced and expose her midriff. Wow, before she's even accountable, she can look just like a scantily clad pop star.

What on earth are they thinking?

If an adult wears such clothing to be alluring, provocative or enticing — bad reasons all — what, then, could possibly be the reasons for similarly dressing our youngsters?

Worse yet: What message are we sending young girls? If we dress them like that when they're 5, how do we think they'll dress themselves when they're 15?

That society, in general, seems to have quit "thinking" means that parents must think (and plan and pray and work and hope and love) even more. And it won't hurt to invite the Spirit to attend those efforts.

When Alma the Younger taught his sons (see Alma 36-42), he did so with heart-felt love, while being a worthy example and relying on inspired doctrine.

Then we hang on and persevere. And we never give up.

Looking back, this 20-something mom certainly remembers youthful imprudence. And she knows being a parent isn't easy. But she also remembers that when teenage trials and temptations seemed relentless she could rely on her parents' unwavering love and honest attempt to walk with her along that straight and narrow path. Even when she wasn't sure that everything her parents said was right, she knew they believed it was right and that they were trying very hard to show, explain and teach her that it was right.

In short, she could understand what they were thinking — and trying to do.

Somehow, putting her own baby in suggestive attire didn't seem to follow that pattern.

That the expectant mother is frustrated is understandable. But she shouldn't be too discouraged. Fully embracing the restored gospel well provides the much-needed protection from a worsening world.

President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, said in the April 2003 general conference that we "cannot erase wickedness, (but) we can produce young Latter-day Saints who, spiritually nourished, are immunized against evil influence."

"If you will accept it in your mind and cradle it in your feelings, a knowledge of the restored gospel and a testimony of Jesus Christ can spiritually immunize your children.

"One thing is very clear: the safest place and the best protection against the moral and spiritual diseases is a stable home and family. This has always been true; it will be true forever. We must keep that foremost in our minds."